Club Inception

North Fremantle Amateur Football Club started off as the North Fremantle Football Club in 1921. The club joined East Fremantle, Palmyra, Brighton, St Paul’s and Mosman Football Club to make up the Fremantle Suburban Football Association (FSFA).

Adopting the black and white colours, North Fremantle were traditionally nick-named ‘The Magpies’.

North Fremantle gave a good account of themselves on the field, however, off the field it was a different story, as the club was experiencing extreme financial difficulties. The survival of the club in those early days is attributed to one Mr Arthur Parker, a staunch member and club Secretary, who donated a whole week’s wages of three pounds, five shillings and sixpence in order to clear debts which the club faced, and which also meant the threat of de-registration of the Club from the competition.

North Fremantle’s First Premiership

North Fremantle won their first premiership against St Paul’s in 1927, coached by L J Brown (who later became Secretary of the East Fremantle Football Club), and captained by Jack Parlton.

This was followed by further premierships in 1928, 1929 and an undefeated premiership in 1931, which team was coached by Pony Staton (ex-South Fremantle) and captained by Clem Gough.

With the exception of 1935 when they finished third, North Fremantle participated in every Grand Final from 1932 to 1938, winning the premiership in 1936 and 1938. In 18 years in the FSFA, North were third once, runners-up on 10 occassions and won six premierships including one undefeated premiership.

The season of 1939 was a new era for the club, as they were admitted to the West Australian Amateur Football League (WAAFL) together with East Fremantle, Mosman Park and Palmyra Football Clubs. North added the word ‘Amateur’ and North Fremantle Amateur Football Club was born. The Magpies were promoted from the ‘B’ grade to the ‘A’ grade in 1940 after going through their first season undefeated.

The Club Strip

North Fremantle Amateur Football Club have always been black and white, with black not always being the dominant colour. There have been numerous changes to the design of the jumper, from all black, to stripes, to all white, to hoops and to the current striped design.

During 1921 to 1926, the jumper was all black with a white ‘V’ and collar, and the letters NFFC in white across the stomach area.

From 1927 to 1930, the only difference to the above described jumper were the letters ‘NFF’ were entwined in the letter ‘C’ and worn on the left side of the chest.

In 1931, the design of North’s jumper was changed to black and white vertical stripes, and continued to be worn by North Fremantle until 1946. During those years, the Magpies won six premierships.

The Red and White Strip

The uniform worn in 1946 was pre-war vintage, and North Fremantle decided that a new football jumper was needed for 1947. As this time was immediately post-war, the knitting mills were not geared up from the making of vertical stripes, so North had to be satisfied with a jumper of black and white havles, with the bottom half being black.

This jumper was not very popular, as it was of poor quality and bad fit, which resulted in new jumpers in 1948. However, as the 1947 jumpers were so unpopular, the club borrowed a set of jumpers from South Fremantle Football Club to wear in the 1947 Grand Final. This was the first and the last time a North Fremantle team has worn a red and white jumper!

The Big Black ‘V’

As the vertical stripe jumpers were still hard to come by, North settled for an all white jumper with a big black ‘V’ for the 1948 season. This style of jumper was worn on and off for a number of years, with only minor changes being made to the design.

The Ultimate Club Legend – Mr Laurie A. Tetley

Laurie Tetley will never be forgotten at North Fremantle; he was a man of dignity and hard work who put his club before his own self.

Laurie knew that the club was greater than the individual.

For 74 years, from his birth in 1921 and the same year the club was formed, he gave his time and money to the club.

Laurie’s club achievements are listed below:

• Club Patron (3 years)
• Club President (11 years)
• Club Secretary (6 years)
• Treasurer (27 years)
• League Delegate (7 years)
• Played 161 games
• Club Captain
• Won the Fairest and Best award twice
• Selected to be manager of a State side